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A PC standard our review suspects may thrive on PS3.
Unreal Tournament -- that's a PC game, right? This popular perception persists despite a number of console versions of the franchise (including the criminally overlooked Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict). This time around, it arrives with both platforms squarely on equal footing -- and arguably more hotly anticipated for the PS3. How much that speaks to the narrowing gap between PC and console provides ample fodder for the broader debate that rages across the Net. While that's happening, Unreal Tournament 3 makes a strong argument that it belongs on PS3 regardless of its other venues.
graphics definitely impress, with absolutely none (if very little) lag online.
For those making this their first plunge into the fray, know this: First and foremost, UT exists as an online multiplayer battleground. Rather than prove otherwise, the addition of a story to the campaign mode resoundingly reinforces the point. The cut-scenes of familiarly bulky-armored space marines repulsing alien hordes make this look like a new Gears of War game, but that's where it ends. When the action starts, the pretty wrapping rips away to reveal the game's simple (but no less compelling) offering of multiplayer shooter essentials.
As an offline training ground, though, it serves its purpose well. At a very basic level, this affords you the opportunity to learn the maps, where the key weapons and armor spawn, and, of course, where to pick up the power-ups like Berserk and UDamage. More importantly, it successfully goes beyond being simply a still-life sanctuary. The computer-controlled bots that fill out the ranks "play" the game convincingly enough to allow you to learn the ropes in friendlier circumstances than getting schooled online. Make no mistake: The primary responsibility for your team's outcome still rests on your shoulders, but you won't feel completely alone. And the opposing team will give you a fight, particularly on higher difficulties.
That said, nothing compares to playing the game as intended: online, with real people filling out both teams. But while essential, the offering of modes feels thin, particularly as you pile up the hours over extended sessions. Team deathmatch and capture the flag offer standard, if highly refined, multiplayer fare. The "new" Warfare mode holds out the lone option for a more tactically intricate game with its progression of control points to be taken en route to destroying the enemy's base. Exactly how new it is depends on your point of view; UT vets will find it essentially the same as Onslaught mode from last time out with a few twists. While that doesn't detract from its enjoyment per se, it does leave this latest UT lacking a truly unique new mode around which to base its identity.
On that subject, Warfare also illustrates the continuing fundamental struggles the game faces regarding what it wants to be. UT screams at its adrenaline-pounding loudest in the intimate on-foot settings that originally earned it its reputation. Winding mazes through sci-fi industrial complexes highlight the immediacy of a rocket launcher or flak cannon, punctuated by the long-range strike of a sniper or plasma rifle. Deathmatch and capture the flag play directly to this strength, but Warfare, with its large-scale maps and vehicle-heavy focus, significantly changes the complexion of the action. It plays extremely well in this evolved form and feels almost like getting a whole other game in the same box. But that doesn't satisfy the desire for something more than just deathmatch or capture the flag that plays up close and personal all the time.
you will get to commandeer a nice assortment of vehicles.
On the upside, UT3 handles all its game types equally well no matter which style of play you prefer -- and looks great doing it. Playing with the Sixaxis controller quickly erased any concerns about whether the game would struggle without the traditional PC mouse-and-keyboard setup. The default stick response errs on the little-too-slow side to keep from being spastic for the average user, but it can be dialed up to as twitchy as you like. Whether flying 200 feet above an expansive Warfare map or running full tilt down a hallway unloading a barrage of rockets, the action stays smooth with even and predictable control response. All it takes to really get into the flow of the game is a little practice so you can dial in with your favorite weapons and vehicle.
Once that happens, UT3 starts to grow on you. While it may not trigger the up-all-night marathons of something like Counter-Strike or Team Fortress 2, a certain comfortable familiarity develops that calls you back to play a few rounds every so often. If prior versions are anything to go by, this effect can last almost indefinitely. The game comes well equipped to maintain such a long-term relationship through its easy customization. Like its PC sibling, the PS3 version supports both downloadable maps and mutators for tweaking modes with things like reduced gravity or insta-gib. With cross-compatibility for everything the PC community develops, expect to see plenty of content available. Classic maps like Facing Worlds are already there; in the past, Epic has rewarded fans with significant content packs in the months after release. It wouldn't come as a surprise to find a thriving group of UT3 players playing online a year from now.
As for today, the arrival of Unreal Tournament 3 stands to be one of the highlights of the year for Net-connected PS3 owners. For many, this will be a fresh experience, lessening the impact of the modest mode options and lack of some fan favorites from prior versions. At the same time, the lessons learned over the years of iteration and the sparkling new graphics engine make this the latest and greatest version for fans of the series. While that experience factor also benefits the bot A.I., that shine may wear off fairly fast for those not planning to play online.
Whether or not you'll find a community playing this game in a year leads back to that earlier question of just how close PC and console gaming have become...and your response to Unreal Tournament 3 will help shape the answer.
-Sports Legends CEO
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